Fire Tears Through Popular Delaware County Restaurant
HAVERTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- Flames ripped through a popular Delaware County restaurant early Sunday morning.
The fire broke out around 5:30 a.m. at Barnaby's of America Restaurant in the 1900 block of West Chester Pike in Havertown and quickly grew to two alarms.
When firefighters got to Barnaby's, the entire deck area was a wall of fire. The outside part of the well-known Havertown, Delaware County, restaurant and pub was now leveled. Firefighters had to focus on saving the main building, and keep the fire from spreading - which they did.
"The building has a lot of water and smoke damage inside," Police Chief John Viola said. "I wouldn't say it's a total loss, but he has a lot of work ahead of him."
It took crews about two hours to bring the blaze under control. Some 12 hours after the fire was extinguished, families continued to stop by the restaurant.
Officials believe the fire started as a result of smoldering mulch after somebody discarded a burning cigarette. Police said the last staff members left the establishment around 2:30 a.m.
People driving by along West Chester Pike at 5:21 Sunday morning noticed the flames and called 911.
"The assumption is probably that it started with the mulch on the side of the outside deck because they've had two or three small mulch fires in the past couple weeks," Viola said.
The restaurant sustained heavy damage. There were no injuries reported.
Owner Bill Daley, in a text message, told CBS3 he will rebuild.
That's something customers are relieved to hear.
"I can't believe it happened. (The) place has been here for a long time," Jim Garahan said. "It's just like an institution around here."
There is no timeline on when the restaurant will reopen.
